Accounting machine



March 8, 1938. MULLER ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed May 2, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet l r H m y m M m MT 0 E r IT V e M m w DH March 8, 1938. I R L, MULLER 2,110,399

ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed May 2, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 fNVENYOR BY Howl LNd/er M M ATTORNEYS March 8, 1938. R. L. MULLER ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed May 2, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Til w Nr T VI Bl March 8, 1938. MULLERv 2,110,399

ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed May 2, 1935 6 Sheets-Shes- 4 INVENTOR BY RoerT L. Ml/eL Od M 21 4 M, M,

ATTORNEYS March 8, 1938. R. L. MULLER ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed May 2, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 9

M A O I, l 4 4 9 u 4 w 5 5 M Y8 5 Y 3 E m 4 0 M MT 0 O E a n .l 5 DH Y B M 6 M O 3 a, 2

March 8, 1938. MULLER- 2,110,399

ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed May 2, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR Rolaerf L. Muller M, 0M

ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 8, 1 938 UNITED STATES ACCOUNTING MACHINE Robert L. Muller, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Burroughs Adding Machine Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application May 2, 1935, Serial No. 19,435

45 Claims.

This invention relates to an' accounting machine and it is directed particularly to the paper handling equipment of such a machine.

In certain classes of accounting work, it is desirable to have a running record in the nature of a journal sheet which contains all the entries that are made on separate sheets such as ledger sheets. Machines have been developed for this work in which a. record sheet remains in the machine while the individual work sheets are in'-' serted and removed in front of the platen and record sheet, the machines being known generally as front-feed machines. The present invention is particularly applicable to this type of machine and it concerns an improvement for speeding up the work by providing for the automatic removal of the work sheets while the record sheet remains in the machine so that the operator needs to pay little attention to anything other than making the entries on the amount keys.

- The general object of the invention is to provide an improved paper handling equipment for accounting machines.

A more specific object is to provide an improved sheet-ejecting means for ejecting work sheets in a front-feed type of machine.

Other, and more particular, objects are toprovide a mechanism of this character that will be automatic, that will stack the work sheets in proper order, that will perform many of its operations during the return of the carriage across the machine so as. to speed operations, and that is constructed so that it is not only simple but is also easy to operate, easily accessible, and foolproof as against misoperation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following specification and drawings. 7

An embodiment of the invention is the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a left side elevation of a machine with the invention applied thereto, the parts be- 45 ing shown in normal position;

Fig. 2 is a detail view of a portion of the automatic operating means shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing another arrangement of .the mechanism;

Fig. 4 is another view similar to Fig. 2 showing another form of the mechanism;

vFig. 5 is a right side elevation of a particular type of control for enabling the operator to perform certain operations at his option;

Fig. 6 is a partial right side elevation of the shown in paper carriage with the parts in sheet-receiving position;

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation ot the paper carriage with the parts in the same position as in Fig. 6, showing the record sheet and the work sheetin position around the platen;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional elevation showingparticularly the parts comprising the frontfeed throat.

Fig. 9 is a sectional side elevation showing the parts in the position they occupy when in printing position; and

Fig. 10 is a left side elevation of a portion of the carriage showing particularly that portion of the ejecting means for stacking the work sheets in proper order.

The invention is shown applied to a Burroughs bookkeeping or accounting machine of a type that is well known so that a detailed description of it is not necessary. It will be understood that the invention can also be applied to other types. of machines and that the disclosure herein is by way of illustration.

General machine features Referring to Fig. 1, the machine has a plurality of amount keys l0 upon which items may be entered after which the machine can be operated by depressing a motor bar II that causes the motor I! to give the machine a cycle of operation, said cycle, in the machine shown, including a forward and a return stroke. During itsoperating cycle the machine performs certain calculating functions such as addition or subtraction. Provision is made for taking totals by a total key'l3, and for otherwise controlling the machine to cause it to perform other operations such as disclosed on the Burroughs machines now on the market and in the many patents on said machine.

A printing mechanism is provided, of which a portion is shown at' It, said mechanism being normally operated near the end of a forward stroke of the machine and serving to print the amount of the items entered or of the calculations performed.

Provision is made for printing automatically in different columns on paper inserted inthe machine and this is accomplished by having the paper carried by a platen P on a traveling paper carriage l5 movable laterally on a raceway It. The carriage, is urged to the left, as viewed from the front, and, normally, as the machine is cycled, the carriage moves automatically from column to column across the machine under the control of a tabulating mechanism of which portions are shown at H, and which is normally operated near the end of each machine cycle so that, after the machine has performed its function, the carriage moves to the next column to be ready for the succeeding operation. While the movement is normally from one column to the next adjacent column, any number of columns can be skipped as shown, for example, in the Rlnsche Patent No. 1,580,534. The platen P can be line spaced by a line space mechanism, of which portions l8 are shown in Fig. 1. This mechanism can be adjusted to line space the platen after each printing operation or it may be line spaced at the end of a particular operation or in a particular position of the carriage.

The paper carriage can be automatically returned across the machine by power from the motor l2 through a carriage return mechanism [9 disclosed in Patent 1,580,534.

The paper carriage and its controls, particularly the tabulating mechanism, comprise a column printing control means that enables printing to occur in predetermined columns on the paper in the machine.

The machine is provided with a carriage normal key N (Fig. 5) which, when depressed, disables the tabulatlng mechanism and causes the carriage to remain stationary.

Platen mounting The platen P is fixed to a shaft 20 journaled to rotate in two spaced side plates 2| (Fig. 6) which are fixed to a shaft 22 that is journaled in two spaced frame plates 23 of the traveling paper carriage. The platen is thus supported in a rockable frame on the paper carriage.

The platen is urged to printing position relative to the printing mechanism by gravity and by a spring as will presently appear. It can be moved from printing to an out-of-printing, or

front-feed, position, both manually and automatically. For this purpose there is fixed to each end of the platen frame shaft 22 a crank 25, one of the cranks being shown in Fig. 1 and the other in Fig. 6. Each crank has a stud 26 on its end having a cam slot connection with its respective lever 21 fixed to a shaft 28 journaled in the frame plates 23 of the carriage. The front ends of the levers 21 are urged upwardly by a spring 29 (Figs. 1 and 10) which tends to rock the cranks 25 in a direction to move the platen to printing position. The platen, being forward of its pivot point about shaft 22, also tends to move to printing position by gravity. When the platen is in printing position, the shape of the cam slots in which the studs 26 are positioned is such as to latch the platen in this position against any force applied to the platen itself tending to move it away from printing position.

The platen can be moved from printing position by means of a manually operable lever 30 (Figs. 1 and 10) journaled loosely on shaft 28 and urged counterclockwise by spring 3| against a limit stud 32. The lower end of the lever has a lateral lug 33 adapted to engage the upper edge of the lever 21 on the left-hand side of. the carriage. When the hand lever is pulled forward, its lug 33 engages lever 21 and rocks the cranks 25 counterclockwise (Fig. 10) which swings the platen from printing to an out-fprinting, or front-feed, position.

The platen is controlled automatically through the levers 21 which are joined at their rear by a rod, or bail, 35 that is operated aut matica y as will be presently described.

Record sheet The record, or journal sheet, R is held around the platen P for a series of operations and it is arranged to be line spaced with the platen.

The record sheet is shown in position around the platen in Fig. '7. It is inserted under the platen from the rear over a flat guide 40. This guide is fixed to a shaft 4| that is journaled in the platen frame side plates 2! and urged clockwise by a spring 42 to cause theguide to normally occupy the full line position of Fig. 7. The guide may be moved to the dot-dash position by moving a finger piece 43 counterclockwise where it is latched by a latch 44. Provision is made for automatically releasing the latch 44 by means of a stud 45 that acts on the latch when the platen is moved to printing position. The guide enables a record sheet to be easily inserted under the platen from the rear after which, upon release of the finger piece, the guide serves to assist in holding the sheet about the platen.

The record sheet is passed up in front of the platen and turned rearwardly over the platen under a plurality of feed, or pressure. rolls 46 of which one is shown in Fig. '7. These rolls are carried by yokes 41 journaled on a fixed shaft 48 and urged counterclockwise by springs 49. The rolls can be moved away from the platen to permit the record sheet to be inserted under them by moving the yokes clockwise as viewed in Fig. 7.

The record sheet is thus held in feeding relation about the platen so that it will be line spaced as the platen is line spaced. Also, as the platen is movable bodily from printing to front-feed position, and vice versa, the record sheet moves with it without having its line space position disturbed. The record sheet is thus always in position to receive copies of the entries that are made on the work sheets which are inserted from time to time, the copies being made by means of carbon paper which is usually placed around the platen with the record sheet.

Front-feed means Provision is made for enabling individual work sheets to be inserted from time to time in front of the platen. In order to receive these sheets an opening is preferably provided which will be called the front-feed throat, the same being arranged to be moved from a closed to an openthroat position and vice versa as will presently appear.

In the embodiment illustrated, the platen comprises one member of the throat. Cooperating with the platen, and adapted to engage it, are a series of feed, or pressure, rolls 50 shown most clearly in Fig. 8. These rolls are carried by flexible arms that are fixed to the underside of a shaft 52 journaled in the platen-frame side plates 2|. This shaft is urged clockwise as viewed in Fig. 8 by springs 53 and the pressure rolls 50 are thus urged toward the platen.

The shaft 52 also carries a paper pan 54 whose lower rear edge rests on the shaft and whose upper end normally rests on a shaft 55 connecting the free ends of a series of arms 56 attached to the shaft 52. This paper pan is held in position by leaf springs 51 which are fixed to the underside of the pan and whose front ends fit under the shaft 55 and whose rear ends fit against the front side of shaft 52. The paper pan thus moves with the shaft 52 and the arms 56.

The front-feed throat is opened automatically, in the embodiment shown, at the time the platen is moved from printing to front-feed position, that is, when it is swung from the position of Fig. 9 to that of Fig. 7. As the platen swings rearwardly to front-feed position, the platen frame plates 2| swing about shaft 22. The shaft 52, which is carried by plates 2|, moves upwardly and rearwardly and tends to carry the pressure rolls 56 and the paper pan 54 upwardly and rear wardly with it. Pivoted on brackets 66 (Fig. 8) fixed to the shaft 52 are a series of bell crank levers 6|--62, there being one for each feed roll arm 5|. One arm 6| of each bell crank lever is provided with a bent end engaging over the top side of its associated arm 5| that carries the pressure roll 56. The other arm 62 of the bell crank is adapted to engage a portion of the paper carriage l5. It will be observed that, as the shaft 52 is carried upward and rearward during the movement of the platen away from printing position,

the bell cranks 6|--62 move with it. The parts are proportioned so that, as the platen moves toward front-feed position, the arms 62 of the bell cranks 6|62 engage the carriage i5, whereupon the bell cranks block upward and rearward move ment of arms 5|. As the platen continues to move upward and rearward, it moves away from the pressure rolls 56 and the pan 54. The frontfeed throat is thus opened to receive a work sheet.

The movement of the pan 54 relative to the platen frame is limited by a slotted extension 63 engaging over a stud 64 on one of the platen frame side plates 2 I.

When the platen is returned to printing position the parts move in the reverse direction and the front-feed throat is closed.

In order to guide the work sheets to frontfeed position, a paper table, or chute, 65 (Fig. 7) is provided, which is pivoted at 45 on the side plates of the paper carriage and which, when the parts are in front-feed position, occupies the position shown in Fig. 7 which may be called its sheet-receiving" position. When the platen is moved to printing position, the upper edges of the platen frame side plates 2| engage studs 66 (Fig. 9) on the paper chute and turn it clockwise about its pivot 45 to the Fig. 9 position where the bottom edge of the chute engages the inserted work sheet and tends to draw it about the platen to hold it in feeding relation thereto, and to position the upper end of the sheet relative to the sheet-ejecting means that is presently to be described. This position of the paper chute may be called its printing" or "sheet-holding position, and it is to be observed that the work sheet is heldin printing position on the front-feed side of the platen by being engaged both above and below the printing line of the platen, the engagement above the line being by the edge of the paper chute and that below the line by the pressure rolls 56.

The front-fed work sheets are limited in proper position relative to the printing line of the platen, whenthey are dropped in front of the platen, by a series of stops comprising arms 61 (Fig. 7) attached to a shaft 55. The ends of the arms are bent and the arms are urged counterclockwise, as shown in Fig. 7, by springs 69.

Work sheet ejecting means Provision is made for automatically ejecting the work sheets and stacking them in properorder so that the operator does not need to bother with removing the sheets upon which operations have been performed.

The major portion of the ejecting means is carried by two side plates 66 (Fig. 9) which are pivoted on the shaft 26 carried by the paper carriage. The side plates 66.a're connected by suitable cross members including a flat plate 6| at the upper front portion of the paper carriage. This plate has a bent lower edge and forms a magazine for holding the work sheets that are to be fed into the machine. This places the sheets in convenient position just above the front-feed throat where they may be grasped by the operator and dropped into the throat. The frame carrying the ejecting mechanism, and comprising the side plates 66 with their cross members, can be swung rearwardly about shaft 28 but, normally, the frame is latched in position by a hook latch 62 (Fig. 7) pivoted on the frame at 83 and urged counterclockwise by a spring 64 into engagement with a stud 45 in the paper carriage. The latch can be released by a finger piece 66.

A series of ejecting rolls 969| (Fig. 9) are located above the platen. One set of these rolls, the set 96, is movable bodily to and from the other. For this purpose, each roll 96 is carried by a yoke 92 pivoted on a shaft 93 journaled in brackets 94 fixed to the cross plate 6|. The yokes 92 are urged counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 9, by springs 95 which thus tend to cause the rolls 96 to engage rolls 9|. The ejecting rolls 96 are held separated from rolls 9| by a hook latch 96 engaging over a stud 91 on an arm 96 fixed to the shaft 93. The shaft 96 carries a series of downwardly projecting arms po-' sitioned under lugs 99 on yokes 92 to enable the shaft to move the yokes as described later. The latch 96 is pivoted at I66 in one of the side plates 66 of the ejecting means and is urged clockwise by a spring |6| which is sufliciently strong to overcome springs 95.

When the parts are in the position of Fig. 9, the ejecting means is in open-throat position and this is the position it occupies when the frontfeed throat is closed and the platen is in printing position.

As the platen moves away from printingposition, the hook latch 96 automatically releases arm 96, the shaft 96 and the yokes 92 carrying rolls 96, whereupon the springs 95 moved the rolls 96 into engagement with rolls 9|. This release is accomplished by means of a stud 62 on one of the platen frame side plates 2| which engages the lower end of the hook latch 96 and moves it counterclockwise.

It will be recalled that, when the front-feed throat is closed, the paper chute 65 moves the upper end of the inserted work sheet rearwardly. The movement is such as to position the upper end of the sheet immediately below the space between the ejecting rolls 969|. To express it another way, the upper end of the sheet is put into "feeding relation" to the electing means.

As the platen moves out of printing position, the upper edge of the inserted work sheet (Fig. 9) s moved between the rolls 969|, which may be called the ejecting position" of said sheet. After this occurs, the stud I62 releases latch 66 and the ejecting rolls 66--9| automatically grip the sheet.

The lower edges of the brackets 94 form guides I63 for guiding the upper end of the work sheet between the ejecting rolls.

After the work sheet is gripped by the ejecting rolls, the latter are automatically rotated to positively eject the work sheet upward and rearwardly over the platen, that is, in the linespace direction of the platen. Thefront-feed throat has, of course, been opened before the rolls 30-3I act.

Attached to the right hand end of the shaft that carries the ejecting rolls SI (Fig. 9) is a gear IIII meshing with a larger gear III which, in turn, meshes with a still larger gear II2 journaled loosely on a shaft H3. The large gear 2 carries a pawl II4 spring urged into engagement with a toothed ratchet wheel II5 fixed to a small gear II6 meshing with a toothed sector II1 pivoted on the shaft 28 on the paper carriage. The sector H1 is urged counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 9 by a spring H3, but it is normally prevented from moving by a latch H9 urged by a spring into engagement with 9. lug I on the sector. It will be recalled that, as the platen moves rearwardly to front-feed position, the levers 21 are rocked counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 9. The right hand lever 21 has a stud I2I on it which is adapted to engage the tail of the latch II! so that, as the platen approaches front-feed position, and after the ejecting rolls 9II3I have grasped the work sheet, the latch is tripped so as to release the sector I I1 which thereupon moves rapidly counterclockwise.- counterclockwise movement of sector II1, operating through the gears described, serves to rotate the rolls 9i rapidly in a clockwise direction and they act, in cooperation with rolls 90, to automatically and positively eject the work sheet upwardly and rearwardly.

In order to govern the action'of the ejecting rolls so that they will not act too rapidly, a speed governor has been provided on the left hand end of the shaft that carries rolls 3|, as shown in Fig. 10. The shaft has a hub I22 provided with four pins I23 projecting from it. Positioned loosely between these pins are sectors I24 which, when the shaft rotates rapidly enough, are thrown by centrifugal force into contact with the inside of a brake drum I25 fixed to one of the side plates 30. The higher the speed of the ejecting rolls, the greater the braking action, the governor being initially set to give the proper speed.

The sector H1 is automatically restored to its Fig. 9 position and the spring H3 retensioned when the platen is returned to printing position. As the platen returns to printing position, the levers 21 are rocked clockwise as viewed'in Fig. 6. The right hand lever 21 carries a stud I26 which engages an abutment I21 on sector I I1 and moves the sector clockwise to retension the spring H3. The weight of the platen and its frame, together with the tension of the spring 29, urge the platen to printing position and furnish sufficient force to retension the spring IIB. During the return movement of the sector II1, the gear H6 is rotated together with the ratchet wheel H5, but the pawl II4 rides over the teeth on the wheel so that the gears II2, III, IIO are not rotated. When the sector I I1 reaches the normal position of Fig. 9, the latch IIS, having been freed by clockwise movement of lever 21, moves to position behind the lug I20 and holds the sector in its Fig. 9 position.

Also, as the platen returns to printing position, the stud I02 moves away from the lower end of the hooked latch 96 which is thereupon moved clockwise by its spring IOI that is strong enough to move the arms 98 and yokes 92 to the position of Fig. 9 against the tension of springs 95. The throat of the ejecting means is thus opened to receive the next sheet.

To put it another way,as the front-feed throat is closed, the sheet is gripped and its upper end moved into feeding relation to the ejecting means, and the ejecting means is again conditioned for operation.

As previously mentioned, it is desirable to have the work sheets stacked in the same order as when they are fed in the machine. In order to do this the ejecting means includes a mechanism for automatically stacking the sheets face downward, so that the group may be picked up and sheets will be in the same order as when fed into the machine.

The work sheets are ejected onto a receiving means including a series of fingers I30 (Fig. '7) fixed to a shaft I3I pivoted in the side plates 80. A gear I32 is fixed to the end of this shaft and it meshes with a rack I33 slidably mounted on one of the side plates 30 and urged rearwardly by a spring I34.

Referring to Fig. 10, the platen shaft 20 has a shouldered latch I35 pivoted on it and urged counterclockwise by a spring I36. Fixed on shaft 20 is an arm I31 whose lower end is bifurcated, and this end extends over the shaft 22 which is the shaft carrying cranks 25. Arm I31 carries a stud I38 which, when the platen is in the printing position of Fig. 10, engages a projection on shouldered latch I35 and holds it in the position shown.

As the platen moves from printing toward front-feed position, the .arm I31 moves counterclockwise about shaft 22 which moves stud I38 away from latch I35 and allows spring I36 to move the latch counterclockwise. As the platen reaches front-feed position, the shoulder on latch I35 engages over a stud I40 on the end of rack I33. As the platen is returned toward printing position, the latch I35 pulls the rack I33 forward which rotates the gear I32, which swings the fingers I30 counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 10, or clockwise as viewed in Fig. 7. This carries the ejected work sheet rearwardly and deposits it face downward in a receptacle Hi. In order to insure that the work sheets will not be thrown off the ends of the fingers I30, the outer ends of these fingers are bent and a guard I42 is provided.

The work sheets are thus automatically stacked so that, when they are picked up as a group out of the receptacle, they are in the same order, reading from top to bottom, as when fed into the front-feed throat.

As the platen returns toward printing position, the arm I 31 rocks clockwise about shaft 22 and, near the end of the platen movement, the stud I30 on arm I 31 rocks latch I35 clockwise to re-' lease the latch from stud I40 whereupon the rack I33 is moved rearwardly by its spring I34 to rotate gear I32 to return the fingers I30 to sheet receiving position.

Automatic power operated controls The work sheet may be automatically ejected without any attention on the part of the operator and, for this purpose, the power of the motor is preferably employed. Some of the details of this portion of the combination are shown and described in application, Serial No. 469,957 and British Patent No. 382,613, and application, Serial No. 745,066, and the mechanism will be only briefly described here.

Referring to Fig. 1, a lever I50 is pivoted on the base of the machine and urged clockwise by a relatively strong spring I5I. The forward portion of the lever carries a stud I52 adapted to be engaged by a. snail cam I53 that is given one revolution by the motor I2 each time the machine is given a cycle of operation. The rear end of lever I50 is connected by a link I54 to a slide I55 (Fig. 2) that carries a roller I56 on its upper end adapted to engage the underside of the bail 34 connected to the levers 21 that control the opening and closing of the front-feed throat and the position of the platen. The slide I55 is normally latched in position by a latch I51 carrying a passby pawl I58 adapted to be engaged by a stud I59 on the ball 34. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the latch I51 is tripped by the stud I59 during the return of the paper carriage from left to right, but by reversing the position of the pass-by pawl, as shown in Fig. 2, the latch can be tripped when the carriage moves in tabulating direction, and it can be tripped in any column, or in as many columns as desired, depending upon the location and the number of studs I59.

Briefly, the mechanism just described operates as follows:

With the parts in the position of Fig. 1, the stud I52 on lever I50 is above the low portion of the cam I53, as shown. The latch I51 (Fig. 2) holds the slide I55 in its lowered position and the ball 34 is in its lower position with the platen in printing position. Assume that the carriage is. returning across the machine and that the latch I51 is tripped by stud I59. When this occurs, the slide I55 is released, whereupon the spring II rocks the lever I50 clockwise and moves the slide I55 upwardly. This raises the ball 34 and moves the levers 21 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1. 'Such movement of the arms raises the platen, opens the front-feed throat,

and causes the ejecting means to grasp the work sheet and automatically eject it.

During the next cycle of operation of the machine, the cam I53 (Fig. 1) is rotated and it engages the stud- I52 to rock the lever I50 counterclockwise. This draws the slide I55 downwardly and releases the bail 34 whereupon the platen moves to printing position by gravity and under the urge of its spring. The front-feed throat is automatically closed, the ejected work sheet is deposited face downward in the receptacle, and the ejecting means is returned and reconditioned to receive the next sheet.

It is sometimes desirable to have the mechanism operate with the carriage stationary. In that event, the carriage normal key N can be depressed which will disable the tabulating mechanism and the machine will operate as if it had only a stationary carriage. A disabling lever I60 (Fig. 2) is then turned to a position to hold the latch I 51 in released position. Then, during a cycle of machine operation, the parts function as follows:

Assume that the throat is open and that a work sheet has been inserted. During the first part of the cycle the cam I53 is rotated and the slide I55 pulled down to free bail 34. The platen moves to printing position, the front-feed throat is closed, and the upper end of the work sheet is moved into feeding relation to the ejecting means. Also the throat of the ejecting means is opened, and the ejecting means is reengaged. All this occurs before the printing mechanism operates. After the printing mechanism has operated, the high point of cam I53 passes stud I52 whereupon lever I50 moves clockwise and thrusts slide I 55 upward since the latch I51 is not active. Accordingly, the work sheet is moved between the ejecting rolls, the rolls are released, the front-feed throat is opened, and the ejecting rolls are rotated to automatically eject the sheet.

During the next cycle, with the carriage stationary, the ejected sheet will be deposited in the receptacle.

In this manner, and with the carriage stationary, the operator can insert a'work sheet, make his entries, give the machine a cycle of operation, and after the entries have been recorded, the sheet will be automatically ejected and the front-feed throat opened ready for the next sheet.

It isalso possible, with the carriage stationary in predetermined columns, to have the mechanism operate automatically without requiring that the operator manipulate the disabling lever I60 of Fig. 2. latch for latching the slide I 55 preferably has an inclined upper end asshown at IGI in Fig. 4. The stud I62 on the bail 34 is positioned so that, as the carriage moves to position, said stud moves against latch I6I-I51 just enough to release it. As the throat opens, the bail 34 moves upward and the stud I62 moves above latch I6I-I51, but the latter cannot return to normal latching position because its lower end engages the side edge of slide I55. As the throat is closed, the bail 34 moves downward and stud I62 moves in front of latch I6I--I51 to hold said latch in released position. Assume that the carriage reaches a column where a work sheet has been ejected and the front-feed throat is open and that, during the next operation in this column the operator does not want the carriage to move. He first depresses the carriage normal key. He then inserts another work sheet, makes his entries and depresses the motor bar. As the machine operates, the slide I55 moves down and releases bail 34. The latter moves down, the work sheet is gripped and the ejecting means. conditioned for operation. The stud I62 maintains latch IBI released and, after the printing mechanism has operated, the slide I55 is moved upward again to open the throat and eject the work sheet. With this form of the invention, the carriage normal key has been described as the means for causing the carriage to remain stationary. However, the carriage can be automatically held stationary by using a tabulating mechanism such as described in my application Serial No. 7453056 and portions of which are shown in Fig. 1. With this mechanism, when the carriage reaches a certain column the tabulating mechanism is disabled and the carriage no longer moves during cycles of machine operation. If a latch I H and stud I62 are provided in such column, the mechanism will then operate as just described without any attention on the part of the operator.

When the tabulating mechanism is disabled as just mentioned, some means must be provided to re-enable it and, as shown in Fig. 1, use is made of the total key. The total key is connected by a link I63 to a bell crank lever I64 Whose lower end bears on a member I65 that enables the tabulating mechanism. Depression of the total key rocks bell crank I64 clockwise and the latter acts to enable the tabulating mechanism so that, at the end of the total taking cycle of machine operation, the carriage moves.

It is also possible to cause the power means to automatically eject the sheet without giving the machine a cycle of operation, and without moving the carriage. For this purpose a key I is used (Fig. 1) which, upon depression, rocks a lever I1I counterclockwise. Movement of lever "I is communicated through a bell crank yoke In this form of the invention, the

I12 to a slide H3 which releases a spring urged striker Ill Fig. 2 to enable the latter to release the latch I51.

In this form of the invention, when the key I10 is depressed, the latch I51 is released and the slide I55 is immediately moved, upward by spring II. This ejects the work sheet and opens the front-feed throat.

It is also possible for the operator, at his option, to cause the work sheet to be automatically ejected at the end of a cycle of operation of the machine in anycolumnar position of the carriage and to have the carriage remain stationary while this is done even though the tabulating mechanism is conditioned to cause movement of the carriage. Referring to Fig. 5, the machine is provided with a special key I80 overlapping the motor bar II. This key has a stern I8I connected to one arm I82 of a pivoted bell crank whose other arm I83 carries a stud I84 engaging an arm I85 fixed to a shaft I88. This shaft has another arm I81 fixed to it, to which a link I88 is connected. The latter extends upwardly to control a latch I88 for releasing the striker I14 having a lug I9I (Fig. 2) adapted to engage the latch I5'I--I58. Positioned under the arm I82 of the bell crank is a stud I92 on a slide I83 hav ing a connection I84 with the tabulatin'g mechanism so as to disable this mechanism when the slide is moved downwardly. When the operator depresses the special key I80, the machine is given a cycle of operation owing to the fact that the motor bar II is also depressed. Downward movement of the stem of key I80 disables the tabulating mechanism so that the carriage will not be tabulated near the end of the machine cycle and it also releases the latch I89 causing the striker I" to release latch I5I--I58. Although the latch I5II58 is released at once, the slide I55 does not move upwardly immediately, because a cycle of machine operation was started by the depression of the motor bar, and the cam I53 (Fig. 1) moves under stud I52 quickly enough to prevent the bell crank I50 from moving any appreciable distance until near the end of the machine cycle.

Suppose that the carriage has reached a column where a work sheet has been ejected and that, for some reason the operator wants to make an entry on another work sheet and have it elected without having the carriage move out of that column. He inserts the sheet, makes his entries on the keys and depresses the key I80. During the cycle of machine operation, the ejecting means will first be conditioned for operation and the front-feed throat closed to grip the sheet, after which the printing mechanism operates, and then the ejecting mechanism automatically ejects the sheet and the front-feed throat is opened, the carriage remaining stationary. He can repeat this operation with another sheet, or he can insert a sheet and depress the regular motor bar whereupon the carriage, during the next cycle, will move the next column.

I nterlocks In addition to the interlocks that are on the When inserting a record sheet about the platen, the latch 82-46 is released and the ejecting means thrown back bodily about the shaft 28. The platen is then thrown back and the record sheet inserted in the manner previously described. The movement of the platen causes the ejecting rolls to be rotated but, since there is no work sheet in position, this movement is without consequence. While the ejecting means is thrown rearwardly, it is not desired to have the fingers moved when the platen is returned to printing position as it will be after the record sheet is in position about it. In order to prevent this, a bell crank member 200 (Fig. is pivoted at I on the paper carriage and urged clockwise as viewed in Fig. 10 by a spring 202. When the frame of the ejecting means is in normal position, as shown in Fig. 10, a stud 203 on the frame is in contact with the end of the bell crank 200, as shown. But, when the frame is moved to its rearward position, the stud 203 moves away from the end of the bell crank, which is thereupon rocked clockwise by its spring 202 so that a stud 204 on said member engages the underside of the hooked latch I and holds it so that it cannot move over the stud I on the rack I33. Consequently, even though the platen is thrown back and then returned to printing position, there will be no operation of the rack I33 and the fingers I30 while the ejecting means is in its thrown back position.

Operation Although the operation of the machine should be clear from the description already given, a brief summary will be given.

The first thing necessary is to insert a record sheet about the platen. In order to do this, the ejecting means is thrown back bodily to give access to the platen. The platen is usually in its throwback position but, if not, can be moved back by depressing the throwback key or by moving the lever 30. The finger lever 43 is then moved to move the guide 40 away from the platen. The record sheet is then threaded under the platen from the rear, the feed rolls 46 are raised, and the record sheet adjusted to proper line-space position. The guide and feed rolls are, of course, released to hold the record sheet about the platen. The ejecting means is then swung forward to operating position.

A stack of work sheets is placed on the magazine 8| and it is assumed that the carriage is in its right hand position as viewed from the front. The operator takes one of these work sheets and drops it into the front-feed throat, the sheet limiting against the stops 61.

He then makes the necessary entries on the amount keys and gives the machine a cycle of operation by depressing the motor bar. As the machine operates, the work sheet is grasped by the automatic closing of the front-feed throat and the upper end of the sheet is moved to position for entering the ejecting means. The platen returns to printing position before the printing mechanism operates and, as it returns, the ejecting means is conditioned for operation. After the entry has been printed on the work sheet, the carriage moves to its next columnar position. Assuming that several entries are to be made on the work sheet, they are made on the amount keys and the machine is given a cycle of operation after each entry, but the ejecting means is not operated during the machine cycles.

When the last entry has been made and during the latter portion of the cycle of.machine operation for this entry, the paper carriage moves slightly to the left and sets the automatic carriage return mechanism into operation which thereupon returns the carriage to the right. As the carriage returns to the right, the latch I51 (Fig. 3) is tripped and the mechanism heretofore described operates to automatically move the work sheet between the ejecting rolls. The rolls are caused to grasp the sheet, the front-feed throat is opened, and the ejecting rolls are then rotated to eject the sheet onto the fingers I30. All this happens while the carriage is returning across the machine so that, by the time the carriage reaches its right hand position, the work sheet has been ejected.

While the carriage is returning across the machine the operator grasps another work sheet and drops it onto the table or chute 65 where it limits against the work sheet in the machine, provided the latter has not already been ejected, as shown in Fig. 9. If the prior work sheet has been ejected, the new sheet limits against the stops 61. To put it another way, if a second work sheet has been put in position, then when the carriage returns across the machine the first sheet will be automatically ejected and the second sheet will fall into place so that no time is lost in handling the work sheets. As a matter of fact the second work sheet can be placed in position at any time while operations are being performed on the first sheet. In that event, when the first sheet is ejected, the second will fall into place without requiring that the operator give it any attention.

The operator immediately depresses the amount keys for the entry on the next work sheet and gives the machine a cycle of operation. During the first part of the cycle the new work sheet is grasped, the ejecting means is reconditioned for operation and the first work sheet is deposited in the receptacle l4l, after which the fingers I30 return to normal.

As will be understood, the operation is wholly automatic. All the operator need do is to place the successive work sheets in position and in doing this, he need not wait until the first sheet is ejected. He puts one sheet in after the other and the sheets will be automatically handled by the machine.

The description just given is of one in which the mechanism is operated during the return of the paper carriage across the machine. It is possible, however, to operate the mechanism in other ways.

Assume that it is desired to remove one work sheet and insert another while the carriage is moving in tabulating direction. The latch |51l58 is arranged for this operation, as shown in Fig. 2, and a stud I59 is positioned on the bail 34 at the proper point. The operations will then be the same except that the work sheet will be ejected when the carriage moves to a certain predetermined columnar position in tabulating direction.

It the operator wishes to eject a work sheet without operating the machine or having the car-- after a cycle of operation but does not want the carriage to move at the end of this cycle, he depresses the special key (Fig. 5) which disables the tabulating mechanism and conditions the ejecting means to eject the sheet at the end of said cycle. He can continue to operate the machine with the carriage stationary as long as he pleases. He can also accomplish this result by depressing the carriage normal" key N" and disabling the latch l5I-l58 by means of lever I60.

If desired, the tabulating mechanism can be automatically disabled in a predetermined column by the use of the mechanism described in my copending application Serial No. 745,066. If a latch I6! is provided in this column, the work sheets will be ejected after each machine operation. If no such latch is provided, a number of entries may be made in line space direction on the same sheet. Then, when the total key is depressed, the tabulating mechanism will be enabled and the carriage will return across the machine during which movement the sheet will be automatically ejected.

In other words the mechanism will operate during the return of the carriage, or it will operate in any predetermined column of the carriage, or it will operate with the carriage stationary, or it can be operated without cycling the machine, or during any cycle at the option of the operator, and it can be controlled by the total key.

.It is to be understood that the construction shown is for purposes of illustration only and that variations may be made in it without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine of theclass described having printing means for making type impressions, a platen, sheet-holding means for holding an individual .work sheet about said platen while it receives printing impressions from said printing means, a sheet-ejecting means operable independently of said platen and said sheet-holding means for ejecting said work sheet, said sheet being free of said ejecting means while it is held about said platen, and means operable to condition said sheet-holding means to free said sheet for movement relative to said platen, to place said sheet under the control of said ejecting cause it to hold a sheet about said platen and to cause it to move the end of said sheet into feeding relation to said ejecting means, said sheet being free of said ejecting means while held about said platen, and means operable to move said sheet into an ejecting position relative to said ejecting means, to condition said sheetholding means to free said sheet for movement relative to said platen, and to cause said ejecting means to grasp said sheet and eject it clear of said platen.

3. A machine of the class described having printing means for making type impressions. a

platen, sheet-holding means for holding an individual work sheet about said platen, a sheetejecting means including a set of ejecti g rolls separate from and above said platen and between which a work sheet may be gripped, means for causing said sheet-holding means to hold a sheet about said platen and to move the upper end of said sheet adjacent said ejecting rolls and means operable to move said sheet between said ejecting rolls, to cause said rolls to grasp said sheet, to condition said sheet-holding means to release said sheet for movement relative to said platen, and to cause said ejecting means to rotate said rolls to eject said sheet clear of said platen.

4. A machine of the class described having a printing means, a rotatable platen movable bodily from a printing position relative to said printing means to an out-of-printing position and vice versa, means for moving said platen from one position to the other, sheet-holding means for holding an individual work sheet in printing position relative to said platen while it receives printing impressions from said printing means, a sheetejecting means separate from said platen and operable independently of said sheet-holding means in ejecting said work sheet, and means operating automatically as said platen is moved from printing to out-of-printing position to cause said ejecting means to eject said work sheet clear of said platen.

5. A machine of the class described having a printing means, a rotatable platen movable bodily from a printing position relative to said printing means to an out-of-printing position and vice versa, means for moving said platen from one position to the other, means for holding an individual work sheet in printing position relative to said platen while it receives printing impressions from said printing means, a sheetejecting means separate from said platen and operable independently of said sheet-holding means in ejecting a work sheet, said sheet being free of said ejecting means while held about said platen, and means operating automatically as said platen is moved from printing to out-of-printing position to place said sheet under the control of said ejecting means, to condition said sheet-holding means to free said work sheet for movement relative to said platen, and to cause said ejecting means to eject said sheet clear of said platen.

6. A machine of the class described having a printing means, a rotatable platen movable bodily from printing position relative to said printing means to an out-of-printing position and vice versa, means for moving said platen from one position to the other, sheet-holding means for holding a work sheet in printing position relative to said platen while it receives printing impressions from said printing means, an ejecting means separate from said platen and including a set of ejecting rolls operable independently of said sheet-holding means in ejecting said work sheet, said sheet being free of said ejecting rolls while held about said platen, and means operating automatically as said platen is moved from printing to out-oi-printing position to move said sheet between said ejecting rolls, to condition said sheet-holding means to free said work sheet for movement relative to said platen, and to cause said ejecting means to rotate said rolls to automatically eject said work sheet clear of said platen.

7. A machine of the class described having a printing means, a rotatable platen movable bodily from printing position relative to said printa sheet-ejecting means over said platen from the ing means to an out-of-printing position and vice versa, means for moving said platen from one position to the other, sheet-holding means for holding a work sheet in printing position relative to said platen, an ejecting means including a set of ejecting rolls positioned above said platen and normally held separated, means for conditioning said sheet-holding means to cause it to hold a sheet relative to said platen and to move the upper end of said sheet adjacent said separated ejecting rolls, and means operating automatically as said platen is moved from printing to out-of-printing position to move said sheet between said ejecting rolls, to release said rolls to enable them to grip said sheet, to condition said sheet-holding means to free said work sheet for movement/relative to said platen, and to cause said ejecting means to automatically rotate said rolls to eject said work sheet clear of said platen.

8. A machine of the class described having a printing means, a rotatable platen movable bodily from printing position relative to said printing means to an out-of-printing position and vice versa, means for moving said platen from one position to the other, sheet-holding means for holding a work sheet in printing position rela-- tive to said platen, ejecting means including a set of ejecting rolls positioned above said platen and normally held separated and also including a power means tending to rotate said rolls but normally restrained against action, means operating automatically as said platen is moved from printing to out-of-printing position to move said sheet between said ejecting rolls, to release said rolls to enable them to grip said sheet, to condition said sheet-holding means to free said sheet for movement relative to the platen, and to release said power means to enable it to rotate said ejecting rolls to eject said sheet clear of said platen, and means operable as said platen is returned to printing position to reenergize said power means.

9. A machine of the class described having a printing means, a platen, sheet-holding means for holding an individual work sheet in printing position relative to said platen while it receives printing impressions from said printing means, for ejecting said sheet front toward the rear including mechanism for depositing said sheet face downward in a receptacle, and means operable to condition said sheet-holding means to free said work sheet for movement relative to said platen and to cause said ejecting means to eject said sheet clear of said platen and deposit it face downward in a receptacle.

10. A machine of the class described having a printing means, a platen, sheet-holding means for holding an individual work sheet in printing position relative to said platen while its receives printing impressions from said printing means, a sheet-ejecting means separate from said platen for ejecting work sheets over said platen from the front toward the rear thereof, said sheet being free of said ejecting means while printing occurs, and means operable to condition said sheet-holding means to free said work sheet for movement relative to said platen, to place said sheet under the control of said ejecting means, and to cause said ejecting means to eject said sheet clear of said platen, said sheet ejecting means including mechanism operating automatically to deposit said ejected work sheet face downward in a receptacle.

11. A machine of the class described having a printing means, a rotatable platen movable bodily from a printing position relative to said printing means to an out-of-printing position and vice versa, means for moving said platen from one position to the other, sheet-holding means for holding a work "sheet in'printing position relative to said platen to receive printing impressionaa sheet-ejecting means, means operating automatically as said platen is moved from printing to out-of-printing position to condition said sheet-holding means to free said work sheet for movement relative to said platen and to cause said ejecting means to eject said sheet clear of said platen, and means operating automatically as said platen is returned to printing position to deposit said ejected sheet face downward in a receptacle.

12. A machine of the class described having a printing means, a rotatable platen movable bodily from a printing position relative to said printing means to an out-of-printing position and vice versa, sheet-holding means for holding a work sheet in printing relation to said platen to receive printing impressions, means for moving said platen from one position to the other, a sheet-ejecting means separate from said platen, means operating automatically as said platen is moved from printing to out-of-printing position to condition said sheet-holding means to free said sheet for movement relative to said platen, to place said sheet under the control of said ejecting means, and to cause said ejecting means to eject said sheet clear of said platen to a face-upward position onto a sheet-receiving means, and means operating automatically as said platen is returned to printing position to cause said sheet-receiving means to deposit said work sheet face downward in a receptacle.

13. A machine of the class described having a printing means, a rotatable platen movable bodily from a printing position relative to said printing means to an out-of-printing position and vice yersa, means for moving said platen from one position to the other, sheet-holding means for holding a work sheet in printing position relative to said platen, sheet-ejecting means including a set of ejecting rolls above said platen which are urged together but normally held separated, said sheet-ejecting means also including a power mechanism tending to rotate said ejecting rolls but held against action, means for conditioning said sheet-holding means to cause it to hold a sheet in printing position relative to said platen and to position the upper end of the sheet adjacent said ejecting rolls, means operating automatically, as said platen is moved from printing to out-of-printing position, to move the upper end of said sheet between said rolls to release said rolls to enable them to grip said sheet, to condition said sheet-holding means to free said sheet for movement relative to said platen, and to release said power mechanism to enable it to rotate said rolls to eject said sheet clear of said platen onto a sheet-receiving means, and means operating automatically as said platen is returned to printing position to re-energize said power mechanism and to cause said sheet-receiving means to deposit said ejected sheet face downward in a receptacle.

14. A machine of the class described having a printing means, a rotatable platen movable bodily from printing position relative to said printing means to an out-of-printing position nd vice versa, sheet-holding means tor holding a sheet about said platen, sheet-ejecting means positioned above said platen, said ejecting means being mounted to enable it to be moved bodily away from said platen to facilitate access to the latter, said ejecting means including portions that are normally operated automatically as said platen is moved from out-of-printing to printing position, and means for preventing said operation of said portions of said ejecting means by said movement of said platen when said ejecting means has been bodily moved to permit access to said platen.

15. A machine of the class described having scans for giving it cycles of operation, a printing mechanism operated'automatically. at a predetermined point in the machine cycle, a rotatable platen, sheet-holding means for holding an individual work sheet about said platen while it receives printing impressions from said printing mechanism, a sheet-ejecting means separate from said platen and operable independently of said sheet-holding means in an ejecting operation, and power means operating automatically during a cycle of machine operation, and after said printing mechanism has operated, to condition said sheet-holding means to cause it to release said work sheet for movement relative to said platen and to cause said ejectingmeans to automatically eject said sheet clear of said platen.

16. A machine of the class described having means for giving it cycles of operation, a platen, sheet-holding means for holding a work sheet in printing relation to said platen, a normally inactive power-operated sheet-ejecting means, and power-operated means acting automatically during a cycle of operation of said machine to condition said sheet-ejecting means for operation and to condition said sheet-holding means to cause it to grip an inserted sheet and hold it in printing position and to move the end of said sheet to-position for cooperation with said sheetejecting means.

17. A machine of the class described having means for giving it cycles of operation, a printing mechanism operating at a predetermined time during a cycle of machine operation, a platen, sheet-holding means for holding a work sheet in printing relation to said platen to receive printing impressions from said printing mechanism, anormally inactive sheet-ejecting means, and power-operated means acting automatically during a. cycle of operation of said machine, and prior to operation of said printing mechanism, to condition said ejecting means for operation and to condition said sheet-holding means to cause it to grip an inserted work sheet and to move said sheet into feeding relation to said ejecting means, said power-operated means acting automatically after said printing mechanism has operated to condition said sheet-holding means to free said sheet for movement relative to said platen and to cause said ejecting means to automatically eject said sheet clear of said platen.

18. A machine of the class described having a printing means, a traveling paper carriage provided with a platen, sheet-holding means for holding a work sheet in printing relation to said platen to receive printing impressions, a sheet-ejecting means, and power-operated means controlled by said paper carriage operating to automatically condition said sheet-holding means to free said work sheet for movement relative to said platen and to cause said ejecting means to automatically eject saidsheet clear ofsaid platen in a predetermined position of said carriage.

19. A machine of the class described having a traveling paper carriage movable from column to column across the machine in one direction, a platen on said carriage, sheet-holding means for holding a work sheet in printing position relative to said platen to receive printing impressions, means for returning said carriage across the machine, a sheet-ejecting means, and power-operated means operating automatically during the return of said carriage across the machine to free said sheet for movement relative to said platen and to cause said ejecting means to automatically eject said work sheet clear of said platen.

20. A machine or the class described having a printing mechanism, a platen, sheet-holding means for holding a Work sheet in printing relation to said platen to receive printing impressions from said printing mechanism, a sheet-ejecting means, column printing control means for causing printing to occur in different columns on said work sheet, power-operated means normally controlled by said column printing control means for causing said sheet-holding and said ejecting means to operate after printing occurs in a predetermined column on said sheet, and a key and connections operable in any column to cause said power-operated automatic means to condition said sheet-holding means to free said work sheet for movement relative to said platen and to cause said ejecting means to automatically eject said sheet clear of said platen after printing has occurred.

21. A machine of the class described having a printing mechanism, a traveling paper carriage provided with a platen, sheet-holding means for holding a work sheet in printing relation to said platen to receive printing impressions from said printing mechanism in columns, a sheet-ejecting means, power-operated means normally controlled by said paper carriage to automatically condition said sheet-holding means to free said work sheet for movement relative to said platen and to cause said ejecting means to automatically eject said sheet clear of said platen in a predetermined position of said carriage, and key controlled means for causing said power-operated means to automatically operate said sheetholding and said ejecting means in any columnar position of the carriage with the carriage stationary.

22. A front-feed machine of the class described having a printing means, a rotatable platen, means for holding a record sheet about said platen, front-feed means for enabling a work sheet to be front-fed relative to said platen and for holding said sheet in printing position on the front-feed side of said platen, said front-feed means including portions forming a front-feed throat movable from a closed to an open-throat position and vice versa, a work sheet ejecting means, and means operable to open said frontieed throat and cause said ejecting means to automatically eject said work sheet clear of said platen while leaving said record sheet about said platen.

23. A front-feed machine of the class described having a printing means, a platen, means for holding a record sheet about said platen, frontfeed means for enabling a work sheet to be frontfed relative to said platen and for holding said sheet in printing position on the front-feed side of said platen, said front-feed means including portions forming a front-feed throat movable from closed to open-throat position and vice versa, a sheet-ejecting means, and means operable to open said front-teed throat and cause said ejecting means to eject said work sheet free of said platen, said sheet-ejecting means including portions operating to deposit the ejected work sheet face downward in a receptacle.

24. A front-feed machine of the class described having a printing means, a platen, means for holding a record sheet about said platen, frontfeed means for enabling a work sheet to be frontfed relative to said platen and for holding said sheet in printing position on the front feed side of said platen, said front-feed means including portions forming a front-feed throat movable from a closed to an open-throat position and vice versa, ejecting means separate from said platen, said sheet being free of said ejecting means while printing occurs, and means operable to open said front-feed throat and place said work sheet in control of said ejecting means and to cause the latter to automatically eject said sheet free of said platen while said record sheet remains about said platen.

25. .A front-feed machine of the class described having a printing means, a rotatable platen movable bodily from a printing position relative to said printing means to a front-feed position and vice versa, means for holding a record sheet about said platen, front-feed means for enabling a work sheet to be front-fed relative to said platen and for holding said sheet in printing position on the front-feed side of said platen, said frontfeed means including portions forming a frontfeed throat movable from a closed to an openthroat position and vice versa, means for moving said platen from one position to the other, and means operating automatically as said platen is moved from printing to front-feed position to open said front-feed throat and to cause said ejecting means to automatically eject said work sheet free of said platen while said record sheet remains about said platen.

26. A front-feed machine of the class described having a printing means, a platen, means for holding a record sheet about said platen, frontfeed means for enabling a work sheet to be frontfed relative to said platen and for holding said sheet in printing position on the front-feed side of said platen, said front-feed means including portions forming a front-feed throat movable from a closed to an open-throat position and vice versa, work sheetejecting means including a set of ejecting rolls above said platen, operating means for closing said front-feed throat and moving the upper end of the inserted work sheet to a feeding position relative to said ejecting rolls, said operating means being also operable to open said front-feed throat to place the upper end of said work sheet under the control of said ejecting rolls and to cause the latter to automatically grip and eject said sheet free of said platen while said record sheet remains about said platen.

27. A front-feed machine of the class described having a printing means, a rotatable platen movable bodily from printing position relative to said printing means to a front-feed position and vice versa, means for moving said platen from one position to the other, means for holding a record sheet about said platen, front-feed means including portions movable from a closed to an open-throat position and vice versa, said frontfeed means being operable to hold a work sheet in printed position on the front-feed side of said platen, an ejecting means including a set of ejecting rolls above said platen, means for movin: said platen to printing position and causing said inserted work sheet to be movedadjacent said ejecting rolls, and means operating automatically as said platen is moved from printing to front-feed position to move the upper end of said sheet between said ejecting rolls, to open said front-feed throat, and to cause said ejecting rolls to grip said sheet and to be rotated to eject said work sheet clear of said platen while said record sheet remains about said platen.

28. A front-feed machine of the class described having a printing means, a platen, means for holding a record sheet about said platen, frontfeed means for enabling a work sheet to be frontfed relative to said platen and for holding said sheet in front-fed position, said front-feed means including portions forming a front-feed throat movable from a closed to an open-throat position and vice versa, said front-feed means being operable to hold a work sheet in printing position on the front-feed side of said platen, a work sheet ejecting means, operating means operable to energize said ejecting means and close said frontfeed throat to grip an inserted work sheet, said operating means being also operable to automatically open said front-feed throat and cause said ejecting means to automatically eject said work sheet clear of said platen while leaving said record sheet about said platen.

29. A front-feed machine of the class described having a printing means, a platen, means for holding a record sheet about said platen, frontfeed means for enabling a work sheet to be frontfed relative to said platen and for holding said sheet in front-fed position, said front-feed means including portions forming a front-feed throat movable from a closed to an open-throat position and vice versa, said front-feed means being operable to hold a work sheet in printing position on the front-feed side of said platen, a work sheet ejecting means having a throat movable from closed to open-throat position and vice versa, and means operable to open the throat of said ejecting means and close the throat of said frontfeed means for an operation of said printing means and to open said front-feed throat and close the throat of said ejecting means after said printing means has been operated and to cause said ejecting means to eject said sheet clear of said platen.

30. A front feed machine of the class described having a printing means, a rotatable platen movable bodily from a printing position relative to said printing mechanism to a front-feed position and vice versa, means for holding a record sheet about said platen, front-feed means for enabling a work sheet to be front-fed relative to said platen and for holding said sheet in front-fed position, said front feed means including portions forming a throat movable from a closed to an open-throat position and vice versa, a work sheet I ejecting means above said platen, said ejecting means being movable bodily away from said platen to facilitate insertion of a record sheet about said platen, means for causing said certain portions of said ejecting means to be operated when said platen is returnedfrom front-feed to printing position, and means for preventing operation of said portions of said ejecting means by the return of said platen toprinting position while said ejecting means is bodily removed from said platen.

31. A front-feed machine of the class described having means for giving it cycles of operation, a printing mechanism operated at a predetermined time during a cycle of machine operation,

a platen, means for holding a record sheet about said platen, front-feed means for enabling a work sheet to be front-fed relative to said platen and for holding said sheet in printing position on the front-feed side of said platen, said frontfeed means including portions movable from a closed to an open-throat position and vice versa, work sheet ejecting means, and power means operating automatically during a cycle of operation of said machine and after said printing mechanism has operated to open said front-feed throat and cause said ejecting means to automatically eject said sheet clear of said platen whilesaid record sheet remains about said machine.

32. A front-feed machine of the class described having means for giving it 'cycles of operation,

a printing mechanism operating at a predetermined time during a cycle of machine operation, a platen, means for holding a record sheet about said platen, front-feed means for enabling a work sheet to be front-fed relative to said platen and for holding said sheet in printing position on the front-feed side of said platen, said front-feed means including portionsmovable from a closed to an open-throat position and vice versa, work sheet ejecting means, and power means operating automatically during a cycle of operation of said machine to close said throat to grip an inserted work sheet prior to operation of said printing mechanism and to subsequently operate, after said printing mechanism has operated, to open said throat and cause said ejecting means to automatically eject said work sheet clear of said platen while said record sheet remains about said platen.

33. A front-feed machine of the class described having means for giving it cycles of operation, a printing mechanism, a platen, means for holding a record sheet about said platen, front-feed means for enabling a work sheet to be front-fed relative to said platen and for holding said sheet in printing position on the front-feed side of said platen, said front-feed means including portions movable from a closed to an open-throat position and vice versa, sheet-receiving means for enabling a second work sheet to be placed in feeding position in the machine while the first work sheet is held in printing position, and power means operating automatically during a cycle of operation of said machine to open said front-feed throat and cause said ejecting means to automatically eject the first work sheet clear of said platen and to condition said sheet-receiving means to cause the second work sheet to move to front-fed printing position. I

34. A front-feed machine of the class described having means for giving it cycles of operation, a printing mechanism, a platen, means for holding a record sheet about said platen, front-feed means for enabling a work sheet to be front-fed relative to said platen and for holding said sheet in printing position on the front-feed side of said platen, said front-feed means including portions movable from a closed to an open-throat position and vice versa, sheet-receiving means for enabling a second work sheet to be placed in feeding position in the machine while the first work sheet is held in printing position, and power means operating automatically during a cycle of operation of said machine to open said front-feed throat and automatically eject said first work sheet clear of said platen and to condition said sheet-receiving means to cause said second sheet to automatically move to front-fed printing position, said power means operating automatically during the next cycle of operation to close said front-feed throat to grip the second work sheet.

35. A front-feed machine of the class described having means for giving it cycles of operation, a printing mechanism, a platen, means for holding a record sheet about said platen, front-feed means for enabling a work sheet to be front-ted relative to said platen and for holding said sheet in printing position on the front-feed side of said platen, said front-feed means including portions movable from a closed to an open-throat position and vice versa, work sheet ejecting means, and power means operating automatically during a cycle of operation of said machine and after said printing mechanism has operated to open said front-feed throat and cause said ejecting means to automatically eject said work sheet over and to the rear of said platen while said record sheet remains about said platen and to deposit said ejected sheet iace downward in a receptacle.

'36. A front-feed machine of the class described having a printing means, a platen, means for holding a record sheet about said platen, frontieed means for enabling a work sheet to be frontied relative to said platen and for holding said sheet in front-fed position on the front-feed side of said platen for the printing operation of said printing means, said front-feed means including portions movable from a closed to an openthroat position and vice versa, a work sheet ejecting means, column printing control means for causing printing mined columns on said work sheet, and power means controlled automatically in accordance with columnar printing to open said front-feed throat and to cause said ejecting means to automaticaly eject said work sheet clear of said platen after printing occurs in a predetermined column and while said record sheet remains in position about said platen. Y

37. A front-feed machine of the class described having a printing means, a traveling paper carriage provided with a platen, means for holding a record sheet about said platen, front-feed means for enabling a work sheet to be front-fed relative to said platen and for holding said sheet in front-fed position, said front-feed means including portions forming a throat movable from a closed to an open-throat position and vice versa, a work sheet ejecting means, and power means controlled by said paper carriage acting automatically to open said front-teed throat and cause said ejecting means to automatically eject said work sheet clear of said platen while said record sheet remains about said platen.

38. A front-feed machine of the class described having a printing means, a traveling paper carriage movable across the machine from column to column in one direction, means for returning said carriage in the opposite direction, a platen on said carriage, means for holding a record sheet about said platen, front-feed means for enabling a work sheet to be front-fed relative to said platen and for holding said sheet in front-fed position, said front-feed means including portions forming a throat movable from a closed to an open-throat position and vice versa, a work sheet ejecting means, and power means operating automatically during the return of said carriage across the machine to open said frontfeed throat and cause said ejecting means to automatically eject said work sheet clear of said to occur in different predeterplaten while said record sheet remains about said platen.

39. A front-feed machine of the class described having a printing means, a traveling paper carriage provided with a platen, means for moving said platen from printing position relative to said printing means to a front-feed position and vice versa, means for holding a record sheet about said platen, front-feed means for enabling a work sheet to be front-fed relative to said platen and for holding said sheet in front-fed position, said front-feed means including portions movable from a closed to an open-throat position and vice versa, a work sheet ejecting means, and power means controlled automatically in accordance with the position of said paper carriage for causing said platen to be moved from printing to front-feed position, to cause said front-feed throat to be opened, and to cause said ejecting means to automatically eject said-work sheet clear of said platen while said record sheet remains about said platen.

40. A machine of the class described having a printing means, a rotatable platen movable bodily from a printing position relative to said printing means to an out-of-printing position and vice versa, means for moving said platen from one position to the other, means for holding an individual work sheet in printing position relative to said platen while said sheet receives printing impressions from said printing means, a spring operated sheet ejecting means separate from said platen, means operating automatically as said platen is moved from printing to out-oiprintlng position to place said work sheet under the control of said ejecting means, to condition said sheet-holding means to free said work sheet for movement relative to said platen, and to cause said ejecting means to eject said sheet clear of said platen, and means operating as said platen is returned to printing position to reenergize said spring operated sheet ejecting means.

41. A front-feed bookkeeping machine of the class described having a printing means, a traveling paper carriage supporting a' rotatable platen, a paper chute for guiding a work sheet into a front-fed position relative to said platen, said paper chute being movable from a sheetreceiving to a sheet-holding position and vice versa, pressure rolls cooperating with said platen to form a front-feed throat, said platen and pressure rolls being mounted to enable a relative movement to occur between them to open and close said throat, a set of rotatable ejecting rolls which normally are separated in sheet-receiving position when said throat is closed, and power means controlled automatically and selectively by said paper carriage for opening said frontfeed throat, for moving said chute to sheetreceiving position, and for causing said ejecting rolls to grip the work sheet that is in said throat and to thereupon rotate said rolls to eject said sheet, said front-feed means being thereupon returnable to closed-throat condition, said paper chute to sheet-holding position, and said ejecting rolls to sheet-receiving position.

42. A front-feed machine of the class described having a printing means, a traveling paper carriage supporting a rotatable platen, means for holding a record sheet about said platen, frontieed means for enabling a work sheet to be front fed relative to said platen, said front-feed means including elements forming a front-feed throat movable from a closed to an open-throat position and vice versa, said front-feed means, when in open-throat position, being adapted to receive a work sheet and, when in closed-throat position, being adapted to hold said work sheet in printing position on the front-feed side of said platen for a printing operation of said printing means, work-sheet ejecting means positioned above said platen and operable independently of said platen, and power means controlled automatically and selectively by said carriage to cause said ejecting means automatically to eject said work sheet clear of said platen after printing occurs in a predetermined column and while said record sheet remains in position about said platen.

43. A front-feed machine of the class described having a power driving means, printing means, a rotatable platen having a printing line, means for holding a record sheet about said platen, a front-feed *paper chute for guiding a work sheet to a front-fed position relative to said platen, work-sheet ejecting means positioned above said platen, said ejectingmeans being movable from a, sheet-receiving to a sheet-gripping position and vice versa and being operable in ejecting operations independently of said platen, means for engaging a front-fed work sheet both above and below the printing line of said platen to hold said sheet in printing position 'on the front-feed side of said platen for an operation of said printing means, column-printing control means for causing printing to occur in difierent predetermined columns on said work sheet, and power means operated by power derived from said driving means and controlled automatically and se-,.

lectively in accordance with columnar printing to cause said ejecting means automatically to eject said work sheet clear of said platen after printing occurs in a. predetermined columnv and while said record sheet remains in position about said platen.

44. A front-feed machine of the class described having a printing means, a traveling paper car: riage supporting a rotatable platen having a printing line, means for holding a record sheet about said platen, a front-feed paper chute for guiding a work sheet to a front-fed position relative to said platen, stops for arresting said sheet, a set of ejecting rolls positioned above said platen and operable independently thereof, said ejecting rolls being movable from a separated sheetreceiving position to a closed sheet-gripping position, means for engaging a front-fed work sheet both above and below the printing line of said platen to hold said work sheet in printing position on the front-feed side of said platen for a printing operation of said printing means, and power means controlled automatically and selectively by said paper carriage for causing said ejecting rolls to eject said work sheet clear of Said platen after printing occurs in a predetermined column and while said record sheet remains in position about said platen.

45. A front-feed machine of the class described having power-driving means for giving it cycles of operation, a traveling paper carriage normally moved from one column to another as an incident to each cycle of machine operation, printing means, a rotatable platen on said carriage, means for holding a record sheet about said platen, front-feed means for enabling a work sheet to be front fed relative to said platen and for holding said sheet in printing position on the front-feed side of said platen for a printing operation of said printing means, said frontfeed means including portions movable from a closed to an open-throat condition and vice versa, a work-sheet ejecting means, power means normally controlled automatically by said paper carriage as an incident to the movement of said carriage to a predetermined position to thereby cause said ejecting means automatically to eject said work sheet clear of said platen after printing occurs in a predetermined column, and means operable at the option of the operator in any columnar position of the carriage to cause a cycle of operation of said machine in which said carriage remains stationary and to cause said power means to cause said ejecting means automatically to eject said work sheet near the end of said selected machine operation.

ROBERT L. MULLER. 

